Lovlina, Nikhat to lead 20-member Indian squad at Asian Boxing Championships

In a year studded with the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games, India has selected a strong squad — including Olympics medallist Lovlina Borgohain, former World champion Nikhat Zareen and reigning World champions Jaismine Lamboria and Minakshi Hooda — for the Asian boxing championships scheduled in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, from March 28 to April 11.

The continental event, being staged after World Boxing’s takeover of amateur boxing affairs, may pose challenges but the Indians, picked following an assessment, seem to be prepared for it.

“We expect the toughest competition. Asia has overturned Europe as the strongest continent. We’ve seen results from the Olympic Games. It’ll be a great test for us to see where we are at,” Indian women’s team head coach Santiago Nieva, a member of the assessment panel, told The Hindu.

Santiago said even though Lovlina (75kg) and Nikhat (51kg) needed improvement “they have a good level and can medal.”

Jaismine (57kg) and the promising Arundhati Choudahry (70kg), who nursed injuries, ‘excelled’ during the assessment, while Preeti Pawar (54kg) bounced back following her recent Boxam loss.

Santiago also backed the male boxers. “At World Championships, the men did not win any medals but we expect them to medal.”

World Boxing Cup Finals (WBCF) champion Sachin Siwach (60kg) overcame his defeat to Mohammed Hussamuddin in the National championships final to book his berth.

However, another WBCF gold medallist, Hitesh Gulia (70kg) was pipped by Deepak.

Boxers who reach the finals will automatically get selected for the Commonwealth and Asian Games. For other weight categories specific to the Asiad, there will be another assessment in May.

“After the Commonwealth Games, there is a window. If some boxers don’t perform, then we could make a change for the Asian Games. After that, we need to give the boxers a break,” said Santiago.

The squad

Men: Vishwanath Suresh (50kg), Jadumani Singh (55kg), Sachin Siwach (60kg), Aditya Pratap Yadav (65kg), Deepak (70kg), Akash (75kg), Ankush (80kg), Lokesh (85kg), Harsh Choudhary (90kg), Narender Berwal (90+kg).

Women: Minakshi Hooda (48kg), Nikhat Zareen (51kg), Preeti Pawar (54kg), Jaismine Lamboria (57kg), Priya (60kg), Ankushita Boro (65kg), Arundhati Choudhary (70kg), Lovlina Borgohain (75kg), Pooja Rani (80kg), Alfiya Pathan (80+kg).